How to apply through CAO for 2025 in South Africa

www.cao.ac.za online application 2025/2026

How to apply through CAO for 2025 in South Africa

How to apply through CAO for 2025 in South Africa

The Central Application Office (CAO) application season for the 2025–2026 academic year is expected to open in March 2024, though the official opening date has not yet been announced. The Central Application Office (CAO) is one of the numerous application portals set to open for a new application season for the January 2025 intake. The university application period in South Africa will start on March 1, 2024, and end on March 17, 2025.

Central Application Office Application Timelines For 2025

The following dates must be adhered to by prospective applicants applying to any of the KwaZulu universities through the Central Application Office (CAO).

March 1, 2024, at midnight: Applications for 2025 are open! Mark your calendars and start gathering your documents.
October 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.: The main application deadline arrives. Don’t be a procrastinator!
November 30, 2024: Late applications are accepted, but be prepared for a higher fee.

Eligibility Requirements:

Matriculation Matters: You must have a South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a degree endorsement or equivalent qualification.
International applicants: Check individual university requirements for additional documentation.

How to Apply through the Central Application Office

The steps involved in applying to the Central Application Office (CAO) are as follows:

a) Prepare the following documents:

Copy of ID AND
Final Grade 11 Report (if you are in Grade 12) OR
Highest qualification achieved
Copy of study or residence permit (if you are a non-South-African applicant)
June Grade 12 Report (as soon as you receive it if you are currently in Grade 12)
September/Trials Grade 12 Report (as soon as you receive it if you are currently in Grade 12)
Any other document requested by the institution, eg. academic Record
Research universities and programs: Explore options like “Study Options for Me” on the CAO website
Apply to 3–5 institutions. Rank them in order of preference.

b) Apply online:

Visit the CAO website: https://www.cao.ac.za/.
Create an account or log in.
Complete the application form. Enter your details and program choices, and upload documents.
Click the button when you get to ‘Process My Application.’
Your submission will be marked as successful by a message on your screen.
Pay the application fee. Secure your spot!

c) Track Your Application Status 2025:

Track your application: Monitor its status through the CAO website.
Respond promptly to university requests. Don’t miss deadlines!
Celebrate your acceptance!

Central Application Office Contact Information

At certain points during the application process, phone lines will be extremely busy, and we advise all applicants to send their queries through the online contact form.